Electrical contactor



July 14, 1931. J. E. KUYKENDALL ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR Filed April 18. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l llomcy July 14, 1931. J. E. KUYKENDALL v, 1,814,443

ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR v Filed April 18. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Patented July 14, 1931 UNETED STATES JOSEPH E. KUYKENDALL, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ELECTRICAL CON TAGTOR Application filed April 18,

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in electrical contactors especially adapted for railroad use.

An important object of this invention is 53 to provide a rolling contactor for delivering electrical current from rolling stock on railroad surfaced tracks to third rails for supplying signals and other devices, with electrical energy.

During the course of the following specification and claims, other important objects and advantages of the invention will readily become apparent to the reader.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a tender equipped with the novel contactor.

Fig. 2 represents a plan view of a railroad surface track intersecting the roadway and showing the signals electrically connected to 20 the third rails.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 25 4.-4 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral 5 represents a tender or in fact any other unit of railroad rolling stock.

In Fig. 2, numerals 66 represent the opposite rails of a railroad surface track, while the remaining rails 7 represent contact or third rails.

Signal devices 8 are located at a grade 35 crossing 9 and are connected to the said rails 7 by conductors 10.

The novel contactor comprises a pair of di-electric plates 1111, to the ends of which are secured the ends of the Y-shaped frames 40 1212. A bracket 13 depends from the bottom of the tender 5, and pivotally supports one of the frames 12 as at 14.

The outer end of the other frame 12 engages guideway 15 of the depending body 16, 5 suitably secured at its upper end to the under side of the tender 5. A block 17 is secured within the body 16 by a pin 18 and interposed between this block 17 and the top side of the outer end of the last-mentioned Y 50 frame 12 is a compressible spring 19.

thereto, and drive means between one of 1930. Serial No. 445,516.

Bearing structures 20 extend through the di-electric plates 1111, through which the end of the shafts 21 are journaled. This shaft 21 carries a collar 22, the contactor wheel 23 and a pulley 24. A pulley 25 is also located on the axle 26 of one pair of wheels 2727 of the catcher. Y

A belt 28 is trained over the pulleys 24, 25 so as to constantly maintain the wheel 23 rotating so that when it engages the third rail 7 it will roll thereon and not slide.

A bracket 29 supports the leaf spring con tact 30 which impinges against the collar 22. Suitable connection may be made between this spring contact 30 and the usual dynamo of the train. Thus current may be furnished from the rolling stock to the third rail for energizing the signal, thus eliminating all necessity for grade crossing watchmen block signals and the like.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size, and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. An electrical contactor for delivering energy from railroad rolling stock to third rails; comprising a pivoted support, a spring suspension for the support, a contactorwheel on the support, means for delivering energy the axles of the rolling stock and the said wheel.

2. An electrical contactor for the transmission of electrical energy from railroad rolling stock to third rails; comprising a pivotal support, a spring suspension for the support, acontactor wheel on the support, means for delivering energy thereto, said support being in sections, di-electrlc plates for connecting the sections together, bearings on the di-electric plates, a shaft for the wheel, said shaft being journaled through the said bearings.

3. A contactor of the character described comprising a support, a hollow guide, a pair of Y-shaped members, a pair of insulating blocks connecting the Y-shaped members together at the opposed ends of their diverged arm portions, a contact r011 mounted between the plates, one of said Y-shaped members being pivotally connected to the support, the other Y-shaped member having its leg end disposed in the guide.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH E. KUYKENDALL. 

